Podcast Summary: Clues with Morgan Absher & Kaylin Moore
Episode: MURDERED: Jeanie Childs
Date: October 22, 2025
Theme: The 1993 murder of Jeanie Childs and the decades-long investigation culminating in a conviction, showcasing perseverance, forensic breakthroughs, and familial advocacy.
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the tragic, brutally violent unsolved murder of Jeanie Childs in Minneapolis, Minnesota, unraveling not only the details of the crime but also the tireless determination of her family and investigators. Hosts Morgan Absher and Kaylin Moore guide listeners through Jeanie’s troubled life, the crime scene’s chilling forensic evidence, and how modern DNA technology finally cracked the case.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Case Introduction & Discovery
- [00:38] Kaylin introduces the case: Jeanie Childs, murdered and stabbed over 60 times in her apartment, with initial evidence appearing promising, but leading to a cold case.
- The crime scene is discovered after a flood in a neighboring apartment leads maintenance workers to Jeanie’s unit, finding catastrophic bloody violence ([04:45] – [07:00]).
Quote:
"This is one that flies under the radar and really highlights good detectives and how big of a role evidence—and some Sherlock moments—can make."
— Morgan Absher [03:49]
2. Jeanie’s Background
- [07:00+] Kaylin details Jeanie’s upbringing in a small town with family strife, abuse, and later trauma, including substance abuse and sex work.
- Jeanie’s resilience and care for her family are highlighted, juxtaposed with her struggles with addiction and the criminalization of her lifestyle.
- Jeanie’s complex relationships: two marriages, a stepmother role, relationships within biker culture, but continued connection to her family.
Quotes:
“Her family talking about her... She seemed like such a kind, empathetic person and really good friend.”
— Morgan Absher [11:58]
"Kinda naturally fell into the big sister role. And it seems like after this, the two of them go on to have a relatively happy childhood, at least for a little while."
— Kaylin Moore [08:17]
3. The Crime Scene & Forensic Evidence
- [18:45] Investigative focus shifts as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension steps in due to the overwhelming blood evidence and complexity.
- [21:26+] Bart Epstein, blood spatter expert, becomes pivotal—identifying a unique forensic clue: several bloody, bare footprints at the scene.
- The significance of bare footprints is explored, being as unique as fingerprints, but rarely used in investigations.
Quotes:
“From the moment Bart Epstein walks into the apartment, he realizes it is one of the bloodiest crime scenes he has investigated in his 27 years with the Bureau.”
— Morgan Absher [21:26]
“Unique friction ridge skin...every one of us has unique lines.”
— Morgan Absher [24:19]
4. Immediate Investigation and Dead Ends
- [26:12+] Arthur Gray, Jeanie’s boyfriend, is the initial suspect but is ultimately cleared due to a solid alibi and mismatched footprint evidence.
- Investigators face difficulty due to Jeanie’s work: records of clients are scarce and unlikely to be volunteered.
- Forensic evidence reconstructs Jeanie’s desperate struggle and the attacker’s continued violence after death, painting a picture of extreme rage ([28:42]–[30:29]).
5. The Case Turns Cold
- [35:57] High crime rates and limited leads force the case cold as police exhaust all traditional avenues.
- Jeanie’s mother Betty persistently contacts authorities for decades—her advocacy becomes legendary.
Quote:
“Betty, this entire time, never lets an entire year pass without having reminded the police that they never found her daughter’s killer.”—Kaylin Moore [36:44]
6. Breakthroughs with Advancing DNA Technology
- [38:34+] In 2015, improved DNA methods lead to retesting old evidence, spearheaded by Sergeant Karacostas and FBI Agent Beckers.
- Blood in the stairwell initially points to a new suspect, John Eswine—a dead-end.
- Retesting links an unknown male profile to multiple pieces of key evidence in the crime scene.
- [42:27+] The Golden State Killer case inspires the team to try forensic genealogy. By late 2018, after uploading the DNA profile to genealogy sites, they zero in on Jerry Westrom.
Memorable Moment:
Describing the FBI’s secret operation to collect Jerry’s DNA via a discarded hot dog napkin at a hockey game, dodging a kid with a slushie:
“It was like this thing, like, silently begging the kid to not do it.”
— Morgan Absher [48:22]
7. Identification and Arrest of Jerry Westrom
- [43:12+] The genetic genealogy narrows suspects to two brothers; only Jerry Westrom, with brown eyes, fits.
- A covert operation yields Jerry’s DNA—matching the crime scene exactly ([48:24]).
- Jerry is arrested, denies knowing Jeanie, and his prints are confirmed to match the unique bloody footprints.
Quote:
“Later the same month, the results come back, and it is a match. Jerry Westrom was definitely in Jeannie’s apartment. And that alone might not be enough to convict him, but it’s enough to finally get an arrest warrant.”
— Morgan Absher [48:50]
8. Trial and Conviction
- [52:30+] Jerry’s trial is delayed, the prosecution argues premeditation due to the excessive violence, and the grand jury returns a first-degree murder indictment.
- At trial, prosecution presents three main pieces: Jerry’s lies, DNA evidence (blood and semen), and footprint analysis—even the defense expert agrees.
- The defense points to alternative suspects but is limited; most notably, they are only permitted to present Arthur Gray as an alternative suspect, whose alibi holds.
- Jerry’s family stands by him, but after only two hours of jury deliberation, he’s convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Quotes:
“What else are you intending to do to another human being when you cut, stab, and slice them 65 times?”
— Prosecutor’s closing argument [61:18]
“She describes this whole case as being just a situation where no one wins. That's the quote she has, is that no one wins.”
— Kaylin Moore (on Jeanie’s sister Cindy) [64:03]
Victim Impact Statements:
Betty:
“I've waited so many years to have this end, and it's put my life through so much hell, and I just really feel I'll never forget and love her the way I always did.” [64:20]
Cindy:
“She is happy that her sister's killer was caught, and she is devastated for his daughters, and even his wife...she's such an empathetic person.” [63:37]
9. Reflections and Cold Case Advocacy
- The hosts reflect on the role of perseverance by Betty and advancements in forensic science.
- They discuss Season of Justice, a nonprofit funding DNA testing of cold cases, sharing that out of 220 grants, 20 cases have been resolved ([66:23]).
- Listeners are encouraged to support such efforts, underscoring the episode’s message: with time and innovation, justice is possible—even decades later.
10. Missing Person Spotlight
- The episode ends with a call for help in finding Ariana Fitz, a missing child whose mother was murdered, urging listeners to remain vigilant and share tips ([67:22]).
Notable Quotes — Highlights
-
“Flies under the radar and really highlights good detectives and how big of a role evidence and some Sherlock moments can make.”
— Morgan Absher [03:49] -
“She describes this whole case as being just a situation where no one wins.”
— Kaylin Moore (quoting Cindy, Jeanie’s sister) [64:03] -
“There is a ton of evidence against Jerry...big pieces of evidence, the towel. He also clearly lied in a recorded police interview, and he lived in the same small town where Jeanie grew up.”
— Morgan Absher [64:27] -
“Justice can be served. And you know, as you know, her sister Cindy said it's a no win for kind of everyone. But Jeanie deserves justice. The family deserves answers.”
— Morgan Absher [70:08]
Important Timestamps
- Case Introduction: [00:38]
- Discovery of Crime Scene: [04:45]
- Jeanie’s Early Life: [07:00]
- Blood Evidence & Forensics: [18:45], [21:26]
- Forensic Footprint Discovery: [21:26]–[25:36]
- Elimination of Arthur Gray as Suspect: [26:12]
- Case Goes Cold: [35:57]
- DNA Technology Advances: [38:34]–[43:12]
- Genealogy Strategy & Identification of Suspect: [42:27]
- Covert DNA Collection: [47:30]–[48:24]
- Jerry Westrom’s Arrest & Footprint Analysis: [48:50]–[50:52]
- Trial and Verdict: [52:30]–[62:39]
- Victim Impact Statements/Reflections: [63:27]–[65:07]
- Season of Justice Nonprofit Mention: [66:23]
- Missing Person of the Week: [67:22]
Tone and Takeaways
The tone is empathetic, meticulous, and engaging—mixing forensic nerdiness (“footprints as unique as fingerprints”) with grounded emotional moments. The episode honors both the resilience of Jeanie’s family and the methodical, sometimes obsessive work of detectives. It’s a case that celebrates advocacy, technological leaps, and hope for cold cases—hitting home how one clue, preserved and re-examined, can finally bring justice after decades.
Final Message:
Never give up hope; new methods may yet unlock long-cold mysteries. And as always—#JusticeForJeanie.